BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — When you stand 6-foot-5, weigh 335 pounds and play in the NFL, you’re assumed by the outside world to have no weaknesses.
That’s why, when Eagles right guard Brandon Brooks went public last season about the fact he was suffering so severely from anxiety that it was the cause of him mysteriously missing two games, it was met with a mixed reaction from the notoriously surly Philadelphia fans.
“There were some people who understood and some people who didn’t,’’ Brooks told The Post on Wednesday. “When you come out with an issue or a story and you’re pouring your heart out, a lot of people think everyone is like, ‘Oh, bring it in for a hug.’ It’s not like that.
“Some people were like, ‘That’s bull—-. You should be out there earning your money.’ That’s fine. As a person who went through all that, it’s made me more comfortable in my skin. To say someone is soft, just put the tape on and see I’m dominating out there.’’
Dominating so much so that Brooks was named to the Pro Bowl this season.
“Making the Pro Bowl this year was great, making it to the Super Bowl is great, but the thing I wanted to do most was to play 16 games without missing any because of anxiety,’’ Brooks said. “That was most important thing to me.’’
Brooks missed two games in three weeks — Week 12 and 14 — last season because of what he thought was a stomach illness. He was vomiting so severely he needed intravenous fluids and didn’t have the strength to stand. Eventually, he was hospitalized.
After further evaluations, it was determined he was suffering from an anxiety disorder. For treatment, he has taken medication and sees a psychologist every week, usually Tuesdays.
By being so transparent about his anxiety, Brooks hopes it helps others suffering from the same affliction.
“I just wanted to be honest and tell my story about it — this is what I went through, this is what it is, why I missed two games that season, here is what I’m doing to take control of it,’’ he said. “I just wanted to put it out there and say what it was, and from there people started coming up to me on the street to talk to me, saying, ‘Thank you, I go through things that are similar to that. To have someone in your position speak about it has really helped.’ ’’
Brooks theorized that “being an only child I guess I always internalized things.’’
“I never really had anything in my life the magnitude of the NFL and was as transparent and critical as the NFL is,’’ he said. “For me, it got to the point where I just wanted to be so perfect all the time in game where you just can’t. I had to realize that I control all I can control. The biggest thing that’s helped me has been speaking to a psychologist every week.’’
Brooks said he was thankful for the support he got from teammates, but he was blown away by one particular bit of support.
“The first person to say something to me — and I didn’t see it coming, because he’s kind of to himself — was Jim Schwartz,’’ Brooks said, referring to the Eagles defensive coordinator. “He came to me and he said, ‘Everybody goes through something, and just like you get ice and stimulation on a injured hamstring, this is no different. You’ll go get help and you’ll be fine.’
“No matter how long I play, no matter what happens to me career-wise, I’ll never forget that.’’
Schwartz on Wednesday said of his chat with Brooks: “That’s just coaching. I saw a player — I saw a person — who was struggling through some things, and coaching is all about trying to give constructive advice and trying to relate some experience or personal stories. I’m glad Brandon was able to find use with some of that things I said.’’
After Brooks revealed his anxiety condition, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported an unknown neighbor in his apartment building slipped a note under his door that read: “Don’t worry about being perfect. Our imperfections are what make us who we are.”
“Guys dealing with anxiety and depression is not foreign in the NFL; it’s just not talked about,’’ Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson said. “It’s a stigma where it’s seen as a weakness, but when you bring it to light a lot of people in this world have it. We’re all human.
“I knew the ability [Brooks] had. It was just a matter of him believing in himself, and you see what he’s done. A guy with the size and speed he has, there shouldn’t be anybody better than him. He’s starting to believe that now.’’
A major hurdle of anxiety Brooks overcame this year was dealing with the scrutinizing eyes following him to see how he’d handle coming off his troubles from 2016.
“Does he have a hold on the problem? How will he respond this year?’’
Those would be the questions following him.
“To do what I did, playing those 16 games and having the best season of my career…,’’ he said, his voice trailing off. “I’m proud of myself for that.’’
As he should be.